Just days after the Disney-owned cable network’s chief was promoted to run all of ABC, his No. 2, George W. Bodenheimer, was moved up yesterday.

Bodenheimer, 40, will handle both domestic and international operations now at ESPN, reporting to ABC’s new chief Steven M. Bornstein.

Bodenheimer, who joined ESPN in 1981, “knows ESPN inside and out,” Bornstein said.

Bornstein is now in charge of all ABC operations, which include the network, radio and TV stations, ESPN and the Disney Channel.

He takes over for Bob Iger, who was promoted to a new position in charge of international operations as well as ABC.

Some see Iger’s move as putting him one step closer to possibly succeeding Disney Chairman Michael Eisner. But others suspect Iger was moved out of the hands-on ABC job because of persistent problems at the network.

Disney execs say nothing could be farther from the truth.

Disney recently reported weak earnings, which Eisner attributed in part to expensive flops at the movie studio and continuing problems at the ABC network, which trails both CBS and NBC in ratings.

Bornstein, a hard-charging network executive, helped turn ESPN into an earnings powerhouse, reportedly generating some $357 million in cash flow last year on revenues of $1.15 billion.

But ESPN’s success also mirrors that of cable networks in general, which have been growing by leaps and bounds at the expense of the broadcast networks. While cable networks receive fees from advertisers and cable subscribers, broadcast networks receive only ad dollars.